Build Your Business Like a Happy Meal
- Liz Schehl
- Sep 2
- 2 min read
For many of us, it wasn’t about the fries or the burger. It was the surprise inside.
Of course, the toy often broke, the cardboard cutouts were flimsy, and sometimes you ended up with another Mega Mac when you really wanted the Robofries. Still, we couldn’t wait. We’d pop open that “M” at the top of the box, excited to see what was inside.
What if you looked at your business like a Happy Meal?
That’s what McDonald’s is tapping into with the adult Happy Meal: nostalgia. Those little boxes weren’t just food — they were wrapped in memory. After the winning game. A friend’s birthday party. A Sunday treat with grandparents. What we carried forward wasn’t the toy, but the feeling of connection.
In business, we often forget that. We chase flawless execution, obsess over what’s next, and miss that people rarely remember “perfect.” What they do remember is how something made them feel.
So maybe the real challenge is this:
Honor the past. What traditions, wins, or lessons still carry meaning?
Find the essence. What sparked connection, even if the delivery wasn’t perfect?
Reimagine it today. How can you create new anticipation and joy for your clients, your team, or yourself?
The Happy Meal was never about perfection — it was about magic in the details. The way the box opened like a present. The toy you didn’t know you wanted until it was in your hand. The surprises that turned an ordinary meal into an experience.
McDonald’s is tapping back into that spark—with nostalgia, delight, and strategy. They’re giving adults a reminder of when life felt simpler, lighter, easier.
And maybe that’s the real takeaway: people remember how you made them feel.
So… what if your next breakthrough wasn’t about getting everything right, but about creating moments of joy, surprise, and connection — the kind of “Happy Meal” moments people carry with them long after the box is gone?
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